When b2 Taphouse moved to a new location in June, Jason Puttkammer, b2's lead bartender, stayed behind. A professional with more than 20 years of experience, Puttkammer's readiness to open a place of his own coincided with b2's move. Just two weeks after b2 closed he opened Tsunami Taproom.

A California native, Puttkammer moved to Oregon eight years ago, but still surfs whenever he can. At Tsunami, he hopes to bring the feeling of being at the beach into the valley. Visit the bar's website and you'll get a Pacific City surf report — water temperature, swell conditions, and wind speed and direction — in real time.

The Space:

Deep blue walls and graphic prints of waves give Tsunami Taproom a coastal aesthetic. The look is subtle, forgoing the seashells and starfish art of a basic beach house, but it's also tough to miss. A well-used, decommissioned surfboard bearing the bar's wave logo is hung from the ceiling over the LED tap list, and Puttkammer built two oblong bar tables to mimic its shape and color. Pendant lights made from rope are a more modern take on the plastic fish and dusty nets of a seafood house. Mellow music – Bob Marley, Talking Heads – plays over the speakers. There's even a potted palm tree in the window.

To Eat:

Tsunami doesn't have a kitchen, but Black Rock Barbacoa (a JT's Food Truck) is permanently parked out front. From 4:00 until 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon until 9:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Black Rock offers a robust menu of tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and sandwiches featuring barbecued meats. A couple of salads and appetizers like loaded fries and nachos round out the list.

To Drink:

Puttkammer saw an opportunity at Tsunami to showcase a variety of beers not commonly seen in Salem. The 30-tap list leans heavily on beers from Oregon, and a few from California, focusing specifically on those brewed on the coast. Expect to see a rotating selection from Oregon coast breweries Wolf Tree, Arch Rock, and Buoy. Two other coastal brews, Barley Brown's Pallet Jack and Pelican Brewing's Tsunami Stout, will likely stay on the list consistently. If you go, be sure to try a pour from Public Coast Brewing in Cannon Beach as Tsunami Taproom is the first in the area to bring them in.

Though Tsunami is truly a beer drinker's destination, the bar also features a handful of wines from West Salem wineries Cubanisimo Vineyards and Redhawk Winery, and weekend mimosa specials.